Thursday, August 20, 2015

We've covered a lot of territory together these past five years, haven't we?

I've especially enjoyed sharing the creation of my Pompeian Room with you. Your interest and encouragement in the project has brought me as much pleasure as the project itself. Indeed, you were a great part of the process.

I hope in your own lives you are surrounded by all those things that bring you joy and have meaning for you. After all, to have passion for something, whether it be a mighty idea or the tiniest of objects, is to be that much more alive.

This is my last posting. It's time for me to go in a different direction and to focus attention there.

I want to thank my readers and especially a dozen+ friends who have been consistent commentors and who have shared regularly of themselves, often outside of this blog. You know who you are because you're each on my blog list. I'll continue to visit your blogs and to comment from time to time, and so this will not be a good-bye, but only "adieu."

Friday, August 14, 2015

This 1859 map of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania shows how the Allegheny River (at the top) joins the Monongahela River (on the bottom) to form the head of the Ohio River. This point was valued even in America's colonial days as strategic for both trade and military defense, and today it is often referred to as "The Golden Triangle."

Fort Pitt | www.fortpittblockhouse.com

When the French established Fort Duquesne on the triangular spit in 1754, the British sent troops led by 21-year-old Major George Washington to serve an ultimatum and retake the land. Washington was defeated by the French, as was General Edward Braddock, in 1755.

These were early battles of what became known as the French and Indian War (1754-1763), so called because Native Americans sided with the French.

The French eventually retreated from Fort Duquesne, burning it to the ground as they left. The English, led by General John Forbes, reclaimed the point and Forbes named the area around it "Pittsburgh," in honor of William Pitt the Elder, the Prime Minister.

Fort Pitt (shown above) was built between 1759-1761.

mybonnie.wordpress.com

George Washington, who surveyed more of the United States than most
Americans realize, surveyed much of the land in the vicinity of Fort Pitt
with the aim of parceling it to French and Indian War veterans.

Pittsburgh Then and Now | Arthur G. Smith

Now, you would think that with a history like that, the Point — as it became known — would be prized and preserved. But that was not the case. By the mid-1800s, the area was an industrial site. The 1908 photograph above shows that there was a huge logging trade along the Monongahela, and that the heavy industry of the city was already establishing Pittsburgh as a notoriously smoggy, dirty place. In fact, well into the 1940s and 50s, Pittsburgh was so dark with smog that it was not unusual for streetlights to burn throughout the day, and for traffic police to wear masks.

www.brooklineconnection.com

This 1948 view shows railroad tracks leading to the Point and water in which one wouldn't want to swim.

www.post-gazette.com

Then in 1945, Pittsburgh elected Democratic Mayor David L. Lawrence, a remarkable man. Over the course of four consecutive terms, he forged alliances with Democrats, Republicans, bankers and industrialists, and through his own vision and determination created an urban renewal that the people of Pittsburgh called "The Renaissance." It took more than two decades of work, but today the Point looks as you see it below.

click to enlarge | shutterstock

www.politicspa.com

My very first job was in "Gateway Center," and I looked out from a window where there's a red "X." By that time, Pittsburgh was working hard to clean its sources of pollution, though people who hadn't actually visited there still referred to it as "the Smokey City." Eventually Pittsburgh's steel industry died (the tallest building in this photograph is the U. S. Steel Tower), and Pittsburgh became a center for computer technology.

www.riverlifepgh.org

Today one can visit Point State Park and walk along inset granite markers that delineate the foundation of Fort Duquesne. Then at the very tip of the triangle is a basin with a 150-foot (46 m) fountain.

www.tripadvisor.com

The interesting thing about that fountain is that it's fed by a fourth, subterranean river that runs approximately 54 feet below the city. Water is pumped up from the river, which is a remnant of ancient glacial flows.

Friday, August 7, 2015

If you're familiar with this 1986 portrait of H. M. Queen Elizabeth II, you've had a fine sampling of the work of Michael Leonard.

H. M. Queen Elizabeth II | 1986 | Michael Leonard

The portrait — now permanently displayed in the National Portrait Gallery, London — was a 1985 commission from Reader's Digest to honor the Queen's 60th birthday. It shows the Queen posed with her corgi Spark.

Michael Leonard was born in India in 1933, to British parents. He returned to England to complete his education, and then his military service, and then he studied commercial art and illustration at St. Martin's School of Art in London.

Though he spent many years working successfully as a commercial artist, he yearned to be a painter, and as he says, "make pictures for the wall rather than the page."

Mrs. Murphy | 1973 | Michael Leonard

Early paintings tended to be muted, possibly as a reaction to the vibrancy of the commercial work he'd done.

Hugo's Window | 1975 | Michael Leonard

But year by year, Leonard's paintings became more colorful and rich.

Ernst Junger | 1976 | Michael Leonard

I really like how dynamic these compositions are,

especially the one below of Frederick Georg Junger.

Frederick Georg Junger | 1976 | Michael Leonard

Stoker and George | 1981 | Michael Leonard

Double Portrait: Edward Lucie-Smith | 1983 | Michael Leonard

Adrian Ward Jackson | 1987 | Michael Leonard

Through the years, Michael Leonard has created what he calls "Portraits in Time." They're inspired by that interesting phenomenon whereby we recognize (at least I do) that some people look as though they could fit into another place and time. Here are some delightful examples:

Naomi Buchanan in the style of John Cox

David Rust in the style of Ingres

click to enlarge | Michael Leonard

David Newman in the style of Kneller

Lady Pamela Hicks in the style of Romney

click to enlarge | Michael Leonard

William Burlington in the style of Van Dyck
Robin Katz in the style of Bronzino

click to enlarge | Michael Leonard

The Portraits in Time that I've showcased here span from 1984-2003. Below is a Michael Leonard self-portrait (also a Portrait in Time). Click on his portrait, and you'll be linked to his website.

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The comment below from my blogging friend Jim, of The Road to Parnassus, reminded me of Horizon Magazine's different take on Portraits in Time. Back in the 1950s or early 1960s, Horizon contrasted ancient sculptures to celebrities of the time. I was fortunate to find a few of those marvelous comparisons.

Sunday, August 2, 2015

I saw this great balustrade design on Pinterest, and it reminded me that I've been collecting my own photographs of cut-out Florida fences. I think I've accumulated enough to share now.

Mark D. Ruffner | 2015

I pass this fence at least once a week. It's on an old part of St. Pete Beach known as Pass-A-Grille, Florida. The house is pretty neat, too.

Mark D. Ruffner | 2015

Here's the gate. The fish in Florida are always smiling.

Mark D. Ruffner | 2015

These fish are swimming in a school.

Mark D. Ruffner | 2015

The simplest of white picket fences can be transformed by making only three diagonal cuts on each post.

Mark D. Ruffner | 2015

Likewise, the posts of this elaborate gingerbread fence are simply the letter "Z," slightly modified.

Mark D. Ruffner | 2015

I spent a weekend in Key West and saw this distinctive fence there. In Key West, one could form a walking tour just around great fences and porch trim.

Mark D. Ruffner | 2015

This was my favorite fence in Key West, and one that's often photographed by tourists. Each cutout insect or animal is an individual design.

Mark D. Ruffner | 2015

Here's a common Key West fence design, though I photographed this particular fence on St. Pete Beach. I'm sure I've missed a few beauties in my area, and if I do find more, I'll add them to this posting.

Saturday, August 1, 2015

For the past several years, I've been sharing monthly from my collection of antique buttons. (If you click on the sidebar icon entitled "Antique Button of the Month," you'll see a gallery of all the buttons I've shared to date.)

Just for today, I want to call your attention to this month's offering. It's my favorite of the lot, and I think it deserves to be seen enlarged. This button, which probably adorned a cloak or cape, measures less than 1¾" in diameter, and for that size has extraordinary detail. I like to think of it as my little Cellini.

Friday, July 24, 2015

No, I don't mean smoke and ashes. When I say, "Pompeii's Finale," I simply mean that my home mural project has finally come to an end.

Since my last posting. the mural's window plaque has received a gold surface and a Latin inscription. The font is appropriately named Trajan, and the saying translates as, "Know Thyself," wise and profound advice from the ages.

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Here are views of the room as it appears today...

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I promised my blogging friend Yvette that I would include a view from the kitchen. It's painted an orange, but I think you could also call it a Pompeian yellow.

Of course there is still work to be done — the Roman grille for the window, a solution to shield the kitchen from view while still allowing easy access, perhaps revised lighting, and then finally, the furnishings. That should be a lot of fun. In the meantime, I'll put away the ladder, the drop cloth and many quarts of paint.